Game apparatus



P 1937- L M. HANSEN 2,092,157

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1956 W22 fi Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAltIE APPARATUS Application January 2, 1936, Serial No. 57,212

5 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatuses, and has for its principal object the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be highly efficient in use and economical in construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for changing the score value of openings or pockets in the play board of a game apparatus, and will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:'

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the present invention showing the latter associated with a score opening or pocket in a play board;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the present invention, and is taken on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken on line 33 in Fig 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken on line 1-4 in 2; and

Fig 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the present invention as seen with the play board removed therefrom.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l generally indicates a game apparatus which comprises a play board I I, over which balls are adapted to be projected by a conventional propelling device (not shown), a slide panel I2 which is slidably mounted upon the bottom side of the play board II for horizontal movement in a plane relatively parallel to the latter, and an out opening or pocket l3 which is formed in the play board I l for trapping said projected balls from further progress in their course of movement over said play board.

Heretofore it has been the practice of manufacturers to associate each out opening with a particular numeral to characterize the value of the score openings. This has been done by painting a score value adjacent each pocket or out opening, or by surrounding the latter by a specific color which would indicate in graduation, relative to each other, a particular score value corresponding to each of the said openings.

This invention relates to a means for indicating a score value adjacent each score opening or pocket, and particularly to a means for indicating a score value of a variable nature. This invention is embodied in a unit [4 which is associated with the play board H, the slide panel l2, and the out opening 13, in a manner to be described presently.

Adjacent the score opening or pocket I3, is a sight opening l through which a portion of an 10 indicator I6 is visible. The indicator I6 is herein shown in the form of a drum or barrel which is mounted upon a shaft IT. This shaft I! is munted for rotation upon downturned ears 18 of a supporting frame l9, and extends through openings of these ears I8 to provide a mounting of a so-called star or ratchet 20 (upper end, Fig. 2) and a gear Zl (lower end, Fig. 2).

The ratchet 20 is engageable with a resilient finger 22 which is fixed to the under side of the play board ll (Fig. 4), and the gear 2| is engageable with a comb edge 23 of a slide bar 24 which is mounted upon the under side of the play board H by pin and slot connections 25-26 (Fig. 5). 25

The slide bar 24 is urged from left to right (Figs. 2 and 3) and right to left (Fig. 5) by a spring 21 which has one end thereof fixed to one end of the slide bar 24 and the opposite end thereof anchored to the slide panel l2. The slide bar has a depending portion 28 in which is formed a slot 29, at one end of which is a notch 30.

A ball seat 32 is disposed in vertical alignment with the out opening I 3, and an arm 3| projects from the slide panel l2 upon which it is mounted and forms a support for the ball seat 32 which has a laterally projecting arm 33. Formed as a part of the laterally projecting arm 33, and adjacent the ball seat 32, are two par- 0 allel ears or projections 34 which are disposed between a similar pair of parallel ears 35 that form a part of the support 3| In each of these four ears 34 and 35 is an opening which is adapted to receive a pin 36 which allows a lever action between the ball seat 32 and the laterally projecting arm 33. A coil spring 31 encircles the pin 36 between the cars 34 of the lateral arm 33 and has one end thereof anchored upon the free end of the pin 36 and the opposite end thereof in engagement with the under side of the ball seat 32 in such a manner as to urge the latter counterclockwise (Fig. 6) toward the out opening I3 under which it is disposed.

The free end portion of the laterally projecting arm 33 projects through the slot 29 of the depending portion 28 of the slide bar 24 and is normally urged by the spring 37 into the portion of the slot 29 defined by the notch 30 so as to latch the slide bar 24 against movement from left to right (Figs. 2 and 3) by action of the spring 21.

The indicator drum l6 bears a plurality of scores in the form of numerals upon its peripheral surface, one of which is visible through the sight opening l5 at all times.

Having described the structure of my invention, I will now give a brief outline of its operation.

The parts as shown in the drawing are in normal or reset position, that is, prepared for action upon the entrapment of a projected ball. When a projected ball comes to rest upon the ball seat 32 disposed below the out opening IS, the weight of the ball will act against the coil spring 31 and urge the ball seat 32 down (clockwise, Fig. 6) and the'free end portion of the laterally projecting arm up, or out of engagement with the notch 30. Whereupon the slide bar 26 will be urged from left to right (Figs. 2 and 3) by the spring 21. The comb edge 23 of the slide bar 24 in its passing engagement with the gear 21 will cause the latter to rotate (counterclockwise, Fig. 5). lhe slide bar 24 will be limited in its stroke by the pin and slot connection 24-25, at the spent end of which the comb edge 23 will be out of engagement with the gear 2! so that the latter and the shaft l'i upon which it is mounted may rotate freely.

The impetus of the foregoing stroke of the slide bar 24 will cause the shaft l'l, drum l6, and ratchet 20 to spin or rotate.

Referring to Fig. 4, the drum l6 and ratchet 20 will rotate in a clockwise direction, and the resilient finger 22 will ride the ratchet 20 until the momentum of rotation becomes less than the. force of the resilient member 22, whereupon the latter will assume its natural or normal position and thus urge the ratchet into one of its definite positions so that a corresponding numeral upon the periphery of the drum IE will be visible through the sight opening l5.

It will be noted in the drawing that there is a possibility of eight different scores for one pocket or score opening.

Upon the insertion of a proper coin into the coin chute (which is conventional to pin and marble games), the latter may be pushed into full stroke position, and the slide panel l2 will thereupon be urged into ball-releasing position (left to right, Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

It is to be noted that the slide bar 24 will remain in spent position upon the inward stroke of the slide panel l2. However, the ball seat 32 and the laterally projecting arm 33 will move with the slide panel l2 due to the supporting arm 3! being mounted upon the slide panel 12, whereupon the ball trapped within the pocket l3 will drop by gravity onto a ball return runway (not shown).

The foregoing movement of the slide panel support 3i, ball seat 32, and laterally projecting arm 33 thereof, will cause the free end portion of the latter to come into alignment with the notch 30 in the slot 29 wherein the said free end of the arm 33 is disposed; whereupon the spring 3'! will urge the ball seat 32 up (counterclockwise, Fig. 6) and the free end portion of the arm 33 into the notch 30, thereby latching the slide bar 24 from movement by the spring 21 which is, upon the same inward stroke of the slide panel 12, being tensioned.

When the coin chute is released or withdrawn, the slide panel will be returned to its initial position by resetting springs (not shown) and the device M will again be in cocked position for action by a trapped ball.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An amusement apparatus including an inclined board down which balls are adapted to gravitate and having a ball exit opening and a sight opening formed therein, a ball seat for receiving a ball from said ball exit opening and adapted to be pivoted by the weight of a ball thereon, means pivotally supporting said ball seat, a rotatably mounted drum having an indicia bearing surface exposed through said sight opening, means for supporting said drum for rotation, and mechanism releasably controlled by an element of said ball seat and having means operatively connected with the drum for spinning said drum upon the release of said mechanism by said element.

2. An amusement apparatus including an inclined boardv down which balls are adapted to gravitate and having a ball exit opening and a sight opening formed therein, a ball seat for receiving a ball from said ball exit opening and adapted to be pivoted by the Weight of a ball thereon, means pivotally supporting said ball seat, a rotatably mounted drum supported from said inclined board and having an indicia bearing surface exposed through said sight opening, a mechanism including a slidable member having a gear and pinion connection with the drum, a spring means for moving the slidable member longitudinally in one direction, and latch means for releasably holding the slidable member between the slidable member and the ball seat whereby the pivotal action of said ball seat will actuate the latch to release the slidable member for movement by said spring means.

3. An amusement apparatus including an inclined board down which balls are adapted to gravitate and having a ball exit opening and a sight opening formed therein, a member slidably arranged beneath the inclined board in a plane parallel therewith, a ball seat for receiving a ball from said ball exit opening and movable by the weight of a ball thereon, means pivotally supporting the ball seat from said slidably arranged member and below said ball exit opening from said slidable member, a drum rotatably supported from said inclined board and having an indicia bearing surface exposed through said sight opening, a mechanism operatively connected to said drum, said mechanism including a slidable member, gear and pinion connection between the slidable member and the drum, a spring means for moving the slidable member longitudinally in one direction, and latch means for the slidable member controlled by the pivotal action of said ball seat and operable to release the slidable member for movement by the spring means when a ball is disposed on said ball seat, latch means movable with the first named slidably arranged member to reestablish its latching engagement with the slidable member.

4. An amusement apparatus including an inclined board down which balls are adapted to gravitate and having a ball exit opening and a sight opening formed therein, a member slidably arranged beneath the inclined board in a plane parallel therewith, a ball seat for receiving a ball from said ball exit opening and adapted to be pivoted by the weight of a ball thereon, means pivotally supporting the ball seat from said slidable member below said ball exit opening and adapted to move with the slidable member into ball releasing position, a drum rotatably supported from said inclined board and having an indicia bearing surface exposed through said sight opening, spring urged mechanism operatively connected to said drum, latch means controlled by the ball seat for releasably holding said mechanism and operable to release the said mechanism for movement by the spring thereof when a ball is disposed on said ball seat.

5. An amusement apparatus including an inclined board down which balls are adapted to avitate and having a ball exit opening and a sight opening formed therein, a member slidably arranged beneath the inclined board in a plane parallel therewith, a ball seat for receiving a ball from said ball exit opening and movable by the weight of a ball thereon, means pivotally support ing the ball seat from said slidable member below said ball exit opening and adapted to be moved with the slidable member, a rotatably mounted drum having an indicia bearing surface exposed through said sight opening, and spring urged mechanism releasably controlled by an element of said ball seat and having means operatively connected with said drum and adapted to rotate the latter upon release of said mechanism by the pivotal action of said element and said ball seat. 20

LESLIE M. HANSEN. 

